The “right hook” is a common type of bicycle accident. In a right hook bike accident, a motorist makes a right turn in front of a bicyclist headed in the same direction. The motorist may either strike the bicyclist or cause him or her to collide with the vehicle. These accidents often occur at intersections, where a bicyclist is riding in a bike lane to the right of traffic. Bicyclists involved in right hook accidents can suffer devastating injuries.
Contact William Mattar, P.C. today if you’ve been injured in a right hook accident due to a driver’s negligence. Our bike accident attorneys represent bicyclists who have been struck by reckless and distracted drivers, and we can help you get maximum compensation. Claims can be time-sensitive, so don’t wait – call now. Dial (844) 444 - 4444 today to speak to our 24/7 legal team.
How Do Right Hook Bicycle Accidents Happen?
Careless drivers cause many right hook bike accidents. In some cases, a motorist may misjudge the distance between themselves and a bicyclist. In many circumstances, the motorist is distracted or fails to check for oncoming bicyclists.
A study by the University of Toronto found that drivers sometimes fail to adequately scan for non-motorists (including bicyclists and pedestrians) when turning right at intersections. Among the drivers studied, some did not look long enough, and others do not check for non-motorists at all.
Right hook bicycle accidents can entail several different scenarios. Many of these types of accidents involve a vehicle colliding directly with a bicyclist. However, in some cases, a bicyclist may attempt to pass a slow car on the right-hand side, just as the vehicle turns right into the bicyclist’s path, causing the bicyclist to strike the passenger side of the vehicle. Lastly, some right hook accidents can occur at a stoplight where both the driver and bicyclist are stopped, and both attempt to move when the light changes to green.
Right Hook Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicyclists can suffer serious or even fatal injuries in a right hook accident with a motor vehicle. Serious injuries can have lasting effects on a victim’s life. Some injury victims may have permanent disabilities or physical limitations and require long-term care or rehabilitation. Those who don’t suffer permanent injuries can still require a lengthy recovery period that leaves them unable to work or go about their daily life. Some common right hook bicycle accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Bone fractures;
- Soft tissue injuries;
- Neck and back injuries;
- Internal organ damage;
- Road rash; and
- Laceration.
An accident attorney can help you recover damages associated with an accident injury, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Who is Responsible for a Right Hook Bicycle Accident?
Drivers must watch out for non-motorists at all times and exercise caution, including at intersections. For this reason, in many right hook bike accidents, the driver who struck the bicyclist is often at fault.The bicyclist involved in a right hook accident may also share liability. For example – a bicyclist is riding aggressively and passes a car on the right without caution, resulting in a right hook accident. In this case, the vehicle may not have seen the bicyclist coming before the crash occurred.
New York is a comparative fault state, meaning that any fault on the part of bicyclists will not eliminate their right recover, but instead reduce it in proportion with the degree of their fault.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured in a right hook bike accident, contact William Mattar P.C. We know how devastating bike accidents can be, and our bicycle accident lawyers can work hard on your behalf to get you maximum compensation. Schedule a free initial consultation today – dial (844) 444 - 4444 or complete our online consultation form and our team will reach out to you.